A Transition State

“Enlightenment is not a goal to be attained, it is a state-of-being to be regained.” ― Kim Chestney,

A few days back we had a workshop on Yoga both for the students and teachers.  Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline that denotes a variety of schools, practices and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism (including Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism and Jainism.^(Wikipedia)

The instructor was an experienced lady, a pleasant person, mature and beautiful in her thoughts and expressions. The teachers were included in the afternoon session while the students had their session in the morning. It went on for two days to cover up every one. We all loved the session as it was an exceptional one on healing oneself through the art of forgiveness and being good to others. It is a difficult trait as our ego never lets us forgive another person who we feel has sinned because of our own perception of thoughts. The auditorium on the second floor was used for the session. It was made available for the session by clearing the furniture and placing clean white sheets spread for each one of us.

We were seated on the  sheets while the instructor performed the yogic exercises on the stage. The auditorium is a huge one with ascending steps covered with blue velvet. It is well ventilated but was deliberately  dimmed by drawing curtains to provide a tranquil ambience for an introspection through deep breathing with gently closed eyes. As the instructor began, she reminded us of the nobility of our profession and guided us towards positivism.We were conferred with the significance of giving an identity to the students in life deleting a tag of worthlessness as she said that each one of them possessed some fine quality unknown to others. She told us that we are able to fulfill all our wishes through a persistent desire to possess it, however she also said that we could give a meaning to a fellow being by coaxing them to dream positively.

In the first session, we were  gently  guided through a state of trans to the art of benevolence. The music and the yogic trans took us deep away into the world of catharsis making us experience serenity. The instructor then asked us whether we did feel a change. We felt we did experience a peacefulness, but there was a person who said he did not feel much. She told us that  it is  our ego that refuses to succumb stopping the person from reaching a state of calmness. She taught us a few yogic asanas of meditation and the secret of restraint to lead a healthy life. She then told us how positivism in life regains the confidence within people. She helped us reach the state of constructive view through steps accompanied by music. She told us that any situation in life could be mastered through the art of being optimistic. She told us that cribbing could drive the cheerfulness away and anything in life had to be performed joyfully.

 I had to go back home to the completion of the session. I had left my vehicle at home so began looking out for an alternate source of transport. I had another young teacher accompanying me who was in the family way. She preferred boarding a bus which was safer. I boarded an auto-rickshaw, the driver quoted a price, which I felt was a little more for the four kilometer drive. I was about to bargain when I remembered the session asking us to forgive people and give away money with a smile which would bring back greater amount. It calmed my nerves and I gave the money easily. I felt very happy inwards as I had no ill feelings which I normally bear. Perhaps this feeling was worth more than all the money.

The next day my friends told me that they had many more beautiful experiences of joy till the end of the session.

Yesterday, while returning back home I saw a young lady waving her hand asking me for a lift. I normally recline with a fear, but the yoga session worked again on me asking me to love people and understand their situation. I stopped a little ahead, the young lady hurried asking for a lift to a place a little ahead. She seemed young and looked tired. I dropped her at the place she wanted to reach. She  thanked me profusely saying she was extremely tired walking. I smiled and moved ahead. Though I had helped her, I had gained a lot in the bargain. I felt a deep joy inside me. It pounded within me even after I reached home. I understood the yogic session well now. I now wanted more of that peace.

In the evening, my friend had locked the door of her car with the key inside. She called me for help. We quickly agreed to take her home for the spare key.  It was Ganesh Jayanti ,the building complex where she lives  has a beautiful Ganesha temple in the garden.When we reached there, we found the Shrine decorated splendidly  with hymns and songs adding colour to the temple. We sat on the paved marble thanking God for the peace bestowed. A little later, when my friend returned back with the key we dropped her back near her car. As she thanked me, I gave her a pat for she had given me the pounding happiness.

I recollected the blood donation camp in the college where our students donated blood wholeheartedly asking me to do the same saying’ ‘it feels good Ma’am'. Perhaps it was the same throbbing of the heart with joy that one experiences by being good.

“We don't realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert